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Police nab Tennessee shoplifters after chase www.privateofficer.com
An alleged shoplifter who hit three stores on Friday took Maryville police on a foot chase that ended at U.S. 129 Bypass near Foothills Mall.
When police chased down 33-year-old John Michael Crowley, Lafollette Drive, Maryville, he had a backpack with merchandise from the mall, according to a Maryville police report. Crowley was charged with three counts of theft of property from a building greater than $500, one count of evading arrest, and two attachments for contempt.
Police responded at 4:27 p.m. Friday to reports by loss prevention officers that a white male in a black jacket had just taken several items from stores at Foothills Mall. An officer on the Bypass saw the alleged shoplifter being chased by a loss prevention officer from Belk. Crowley allegedly looked over his shoulder as police called for him to stop and kept running. After a short foot chase, an officer caught Crowley on the side of the Bypass.
The merchandise in his backpack came from Sears and Belk at Foothills Mall, 197 Foothills Mall, and Hastings, 501 N. Foothills Plaza Drive. Crowley was being held without bond on the attachments for contempt pending 1:30 p.m. April 6 and 9 a.m. April 7 hearings in Blount County General Sessions Court.
Maryville police officers made arrests in two other shoplifting cases reported Friday:
— Dana Lawson, 39, and John Robert Lawson, 49, both of Dryden Lane, Maryville, were both arrested in an alleged shoplifting incident on Friday at Wal-Mart, 2410 U.S. 411 South, Maryville. Dana Lawson allegedly tried to conceal $29.85 in merchandise. John Lawson, her husband, allegedly assisted her.
A 17-year-old juvenile who was with them is also accused of helping with the theft and was taken into custody. Dana Lawson, who was booked under the name Dana Carol Laughterty, was charged with two counts of theft of property by shoplifting. John Lawson was charged with possession of a Schedule II substance and criminal conspiracy.
Both were released on $2,000 in bonds pending 9 a.m. March 31 hearings in Blount County General Sessions Court. The juvenile was charged with conspiracy to commit theft and taken to the Blount County Juvenile Detention Center.
— Doris Rebecca Murphy, 40, Howard Street, Maryville, was arrested by Maryville police officers on March 27 on the charge of theft of property by shoplifting. Murphy allegedly took a 24-pack of beer valued at $12.99 from Food City, 2135 E. Broadway Ave., at 7:30 p.m. Friday. She was spotted leaving the parking lot and police used the vehicle’s license plate registration information to find her at the Howard Street residence. She told police she took the beer. Several cans were missing, according to a Maryville police report.
She was released on a $1,000 bond pending a 9 a.m. April 7 hearing in Blount County General Sessions Court.
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